Commitment to Other’s Success

”’In the middle ages, alchemists sought the “Philosopher’s Stone””’ which could turn base metal into gold. Visions of impossible wealth and power and the very magic of the idea captured hearts and minds.

”’The base metal in modern life is everything that suppresses energy, cooperation and willingness”’ to reach beyond the predictable. For a long time I’ve sought simple ways to transform this base metal. There have been few answers. Success has been mostly in events and often temporary. Training programs, reorganizations, rewards and new direction have usually made a short lived difference. The source of the difference seemed to go away. Still, the sometime magic of new possibility keeps me the playing the game. The experience reminds me of playing slot machines in Las Vegas. Every once in a while, I pull the lever, people commit to each others success and, in that moment, there is an explosion of energy, attraction and intention regarding whatever they care about and were resigned about in the first place.

”’There are many corporate examples of “commitment to the success of others.””’ The most common is found when people have mentors. The evidence is that people who are mentored by others can get ahead faster. Most of the time, though, people in companies have not been committed to each others’ success. It’s just not something they are rewarded for. It’s not that people are against each other, although that does happen. They are just not “for” one another. There are many reasons for this. Most of these are natural human reactions to the design of hierarchical and functional organizations. Some may come from human nature. It is too easy to condemn the organizations and the people. Rather than condemn, I suggest that the act of committing to others’ success makes resistance disappear for as long as you sustain and renew the commitment.

A highly-experienced Futurist, Author, and Executive Coach, Charlie Smith’s work has been with leaders and teams in companies, associations, industries and military organizations. Charlie is an expert in such areas as: Personal and leadership coach. Helping release organizational energy in individuals and between people, departments and customers. Enabling others to create a future based on peoples’ commitment to each other’s success. Advising leaders to achieve unthinkable targets. Coaching people come to grips with what really troubles them and build a bridge from a future they want. Stimulating Breakthrough Thinking and Culture Change

Dr. Smith’s special interest is in helping leaders and systems Break Free of the gravitational force that binds them to seemingly unchangeable culture and identity. Clients have been ambitious entrepreneurs and leaders facing big challenges with people, culture, and important transitions. A graduate of the Boston Public Latin School, Charlie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Relations from Harvard College, an MBA from the Harvard Business School, a Ph.D in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University, and a Certificate in Gestalt Methods from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. He was a Visiting Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at Sir George Williams University in Montreal and taught at the McGill University Centre for Management Education. He is a former President of the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of New Mexico, and Executive Editor of Transformation Magazine: a Quarterly Road Map. Dr. Smith has written two books, “The Merlin Factor” and “Navigating from the Future,” as well as many articles which can be located in the Library of Professional Coaching and Eruditio, a Journal of the World Academy of Art and Science.